"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." Matthew 5:41 (NIV)
Reflection
I often ask myself whether I am asking Jesus to operate within my life rules or whether I am willing to operate within His. I believe that most of my life has been the former. "Thank you, Jesus, for this free gift of salvation, but now let me get on with my life."
I have come to appreciate that Jesus had a greater concern than just extending my life from earth to heaven - He wanted to extend the kingdom of heaven to earth. What does the kingdom of heaven on earth look like? Are we even getting close? closer?
The latter verses of Matthew 5 depict a much different reality than most Christians are living out. As Christians insist on their own rights, sue others over insignificant issues, divorce a spouse because they don't feel it anymore, etc., it's clear that most of us are insisting that Jesus operate within our life rules. No wonder we see so little of the kingdom of heaven on earth.
The kingdom of heaven goes beyond what any of us can fully imagine or comprehend, but from Jesus' simple teaching, we know it to be a place wherein those experiencing it will not resist an evil person but rather turn the other cheek, add our coat to the one who sues us for our shirt, go a second mile with the person who forces us to go one, love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. By behaving in this way, we may appear like children of our Father in heaven, and perhaps be used of God to extend such a kingdom to others.
One way or the other, the way we live our lives impacts those around us. Does our behavior lead those around us to conclude that we are experiencing this radically different kingdom of heaven on earth? If so, perhaps they will be drawn to such a kingdom, and we will see Jesus' vision of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven becoming a greater reality.
Question to Consider
I have come to appreciate that Jesus had a greater concern than just extending my life from earth to heaven - He wanted to extend the kingdom of heaven to earth. What does the kingdom of heaven on earth look like? Are we even getting close? closer?
The latter verses of Matthew 5 depict a much different reality than most Christians are living out. As Christians insist on their own rights, sue others over insignificant issues, divorce a spouse because they don't feel it anymore, etc., it's clear that most of us are insisting that Jesus operate within our life rules. No wonder we see so little of the kingdom of heaven on earth.
The kingdom of heaven goes beyond what any of us can fully imagine or comprehend, but from Jesus' simple teaching, we know it to be a place wherein those experiencing it will not resist an evil person but rather turn the other cheek, add our coat to the one who sues us for our shirt, go a second mile with the person who forces us to go one, love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. By behaving in this way, we may appear like children of our Father in heaven, and perhaps be used of God to extend such a kingdom to others.
One way or the other, the way we live our lives impacts those around us. Does our behavior lead those around us to conclude that we are experiencing this radically different kingdom of heaven on earth? If so, perhaps they will be drawn to such a kingdom, and we will see Jesus' vision of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven becoming a greater reality.
Question to Consider
Are you insisting that Jesus operate within your life rules, or are you really willing to operate within His?
Action Step for the Week
Identify one practical aspect of the kingdom of heaven on earth and then ask God to allow you to make that a reality in your own life.
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